Handle means for cases and the like



April 1936. C.'$CHELL HANDLE MEANS FOR CASES AND THE LIKE Filed June' 25, 1934 3mm Gbqrlas fafiell Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,036,645 HANDLE MEANS FOR CASES AND THE LIKE Albert N. Schell,

both of Cincinnati, Ohio Application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,285

2 Claims.

This invention relates to movable handles for portfolios, cases, articles of luggage and the like, the handles being adapted to be selectively raised to a position to be grasped, or pushed down into a sheathed flat-lying relationship with their supporting body at such times, for example, when it is desired to carry the portfolio under the arm or when, in short, it is desired to have the handles in non-projecting position.

An object of the invention is to provide such handles and associated means constructed in an efiicient and sturdy manner, and so designed as to lend a novel and attractive appearance to the case or other article with which they are associated.

Other objects will become apparent throughout the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which: a

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portfolio or case provided with the handle means of the present invention, the handles being shown in raised operative position, and a portion of one of the sheaths being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational with the handles shown in sition. 7

As previously suggested, the handle means of the present invention may be associated with a portfolio, case, or other article of luggage and in fact may be associated with other kinds and types of carrying media aswill be readily apparent. As illustrated herein, however, the handle means are shown as associated with a portfolio or case I consisting of two cooperating sections 2 and 3 which are adapted to be brought together in edgewise engagement in a manner well known. The handle means of this invention are adapted to be associated with the opposite sides of the case 40 and comprise two pairs of sheaths 4 attached, one pair each, to a side of the case, such as by stitching. The sheaths 4 may be elongated in shape, closed at their lower ends, and open at their upper ends whichextend to a line below 45 the top edge of the portfolio side with which the sheaths are associated. I A pair of handles 5 and 6, preferably formed of flexible material such as leather, is associated, one each, with one of the pairs of sheaths. Each handle may be of inverted U shape and may comprise a pair of leg members I and 8 which are entered slidably, one leg each in one of the sheaths l. At the upper ends, the leg members i and 8 are joined by a trans verse grip 9 which extends outside the sheaths view of the same, lowered sheathed por 55 4. The inner ends of the leg members 1 and 8 are enlarged to form cross heads which may be of triangular or any other desired shape, and formed so as to provide laterally extending shoulders ll. Cross heads H! are precluded from movement of their sheaths 4 by means of stop members [2 secured on either side of the open tops of the sheaths 4. For this purpose, small wedge-like blocks of leather may be utilized being secured in position by means of the stitching which fastens the sheaths in place.

The stop members l2 permit slidable movement of the legs 1 and 8 of the handles but preclude outward movement of the cross heads I 0 by abutment with the shoulders ll thereof. When the handles are drawn up to the positions seen in Fig. 1, they are flexed toward one another and the grips 9 thereof brought together so as to provide an eflicient composite handle for the portfolio. When it is desired to carry the portfolio under the arm, or when for some reason it is preferred to have the handles in an inconspicuous and non-projecting position, the handles are simply pushed down so that the legs 'I and 8 are enclosed within their sheaths, at which time the grips 9 of the handles lie flush against the sides of the brief case and extend slightly below the top edges of the sides of the brief case as seen in Fig. 2. In the returned position, it will be seen that handles are disposed entirely within the peripheral limits of the case or portfolio.

It is apparent that various changes in the relative size and. position of the handle means as well as in such details as the stop means shown herein may be made but such changes and modifications are believed to be comprised within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a. portfolio, case, or thelike, of a pair of tunnel-like sheaths attached to each outer face of the portfolio, 2. pair of handles associated one each with one of said pairs of sheaths, each handle comprising a pair of legs slidably disposed one each in one of said sheaths and a transverse grip connecting the legs outside the sheath, stop means associated with each sheath at the top thereof, and a cross head at the inner end of each of said legs and limiting outward movement of the legs from their sheaths by abutment with said stop means, the handles being adapted to be selectively drawn out for use and flexed toward one anothcrabove the top of the portfoliov for bringing the grips together, or

pushed down in flat non-flexed condition into a sheathed position of the legs with the grips only side the sheaths, and means limiting outward movement of the legs from their sheaths the handles being adapted to be drawn out into position to be grasped above the top ofthe .case, and

to be returned to inoperative position in which 5 the handles are non-projecting relationship with the top of the case.

CHARIESSCHEIL. 

